Have You Turned in Your Pledge?

Christina Fulton, Director of Operations & Finance

Celebration Sunday was a huge success! Dancing, singing, eating, and general merriment were had by all. As of today, we have received 121 pledges for $273,887! That is amazing, and thank you to everyone who has completed a pledge card. Unfortunately, that is only halfway to our goal. So now is the time. We need you to click on the button below and complete your pledge card.  Not sure if you've completed a pledge card for the 2026/2027 fiscal year? Go ahead and complete one again, or email xina@uusociety.org to find out.  

If you need more information about pledging, please visit our website.

This coming week, members of our Stewardship Team will be contacting congregants who have not completed their pledge. Please lighten their load, and complete your pledge card now.

Eileen Blackwood, President of FUUSB Board

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am writing to clarify the Board's action related to the

Apartheid Free Communities pledge...

Minister's Message March 18th

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior MInister

Then I ask them: would they be willing to stick through the hard times of disagreement and disappointment, conflict and compromise, to be able to be a part of the deeper, stronger community that comes out on the other side? To read the whole message, click here. You can also see a video recording of Rev. Karen delivering this message:

Join Us for Worship This Sunday!

March 22 at 10 a.m.

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior Minister

Mary Beth McNulty, Worship Associate

"No Free Lunch: A Sermon on AI"

Really fast, all at once, and long in coming, AI has become ubiquitous. And there’s more where that came from. Is it something we embrace wholeheartedly? Is it something to fear? To fight? Maybe some of each. How do our Unitarian Universalist values and principles guide us? Rev. Karen has been taking a class for ministers on AI and will share some of her thoughts.

Join us for worship in person in the Sanctuary, or online. The livestream link and order of service will be shared at bit.ly/FUUSBWorship, or visit our YouTube channel.

Following the service, all are welcome to Coffee Hour in the Community Room.

While at the Meeting House, anyone is welcome to wear a mask. In the spirit of caring for each other, please stay home if you have any cold or flu symptoms. Thank you.

Children & Youth This Sunday

Mo Singletary, Family Programs Assistant

Families will begin the morning together in the Sanctuary. After the Time For All Ages, children and youth will be escorted to their Faith Development exploration groups on the upper and lower levels. Please note that the nursery will not be staffed this week, but will be open and available to those who wish to use the space. The Junior Choir will be meeting upstairs in SBA after the service.

Looking Back to Sunday

Here is a link to the video recording of last week's service.

Online Input-Gathering Sessions

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior MInister

Mark your calendar and plan to attend one of these online input sessions: https://zoom.us/j/96566061293

Celebrate the Arrival of Spring!

Pagan Gathering Affinity Group

The First UU Pagan Gathering will be observing Ostara, the Spring Equinox, on Tuesday, March 24^th, 6-7:30 pm in the Parlors. We invite you to join us in this joyful, family-friendly celebration of new beginnings and the return of life to the land. If Earth-centered spiritual practices call to you, or if you’re just curious and want to see what our group is about, you are most welcome.

The Pagan Gathering meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 6-7:30pm in the Parlors. We hope to see you there!

The Annual Egg Hunt Needs Your Help!

Mo Singletary, Family Programs Assistant

Our annual Egg Hunt is coming up on Sunday, April 5th, and we need your help to make the magic happen! The hunt will take place in the Memorial Garden after the Easter multigenerational service, and children of all ages are invited to take part in the fun.

Keeping tradition, we ask that each family that plans to come bring 8-12 stuffed eggs per child. Eggs should be filled with small non-food items – think stickers, pocket change, seashells, seed paper, tattoos, mini origami, friendship bracelets, pretty rocks, or other fun trinkets and treasures. Reused and upcycled items are especially welcome! 

To make this easier (and more sustainable), we have an abundance of plastic eggs ready to be picked up and reused. Starting this Sunday, they will be available to take at both entrances so please bring some home to fill, and return them before the hunt.

Game Night is Back!

Mo Singletary, Family Programs Assistant

Friday, March 27th 5-8pm

Mark your calendars and join UU families and friends for our March Multigenerational Game Night! We'll have many games at the ready, but feel free to bring any of your favorites. In the past we've had jigsaw puzzles, Dominoes, Jenga, Ticket to Ride, Rumikub, Azul, group card games, Pictionary, and more.  

We'll have a "no-stress" potluck, and you’re welcome to pop in for a quick game or stay for the whole time. Either way, come ready to eat, play, connect, and fuel up on joy before a weekend of protest! 

No Kings Day Events:

March 22nd & March 28th

Democracy Project

Want to share some of your artistic talents in preparation for No Kings Day? 

Come to the Sign Making Party after the service (around 11:30am) on Sunday, March 22nd in the Whitney Young Room 

The Democracy Project is rounding up some supplies for creating signs and we hope you can bring some of your own as well. 

We are creating a banner specifically for the No Kings Rally on March 28th! 

Come and share your talent!  

Don't go alone to No Kings Day on Saturday, March 28th! Come and Join your UU family! 

We are gathering at 11:30am at the First UU to march to the Rally at City Hall Park for the No Kings Day Rally on Saturday, March 28th! There should be plenty of parking in our parking lot but the Meetinghouse itself will not be open. Come and walk with our FUUSB community!  Sponsored by the Democracy Project of the FUUSB. 

Respectful Dialogue on UU Practices 3/22

Submitted by Gail Beck

All are welcome to join the Respectful Dialogue on UU Practices at our next meeting on Sunday, March 22, at 11:30 AM in the Parlors. For this meeting, we will continue discussing the use of pronouns with trusted UUs by sharing our personal views and opinions on this practice. Everyone is welcome. If there are other UU practices that you would like to discuss in a future meeting, please share them with me, or with the group on Sunday. 

Grab a coffee and join us—all are welcome! Questions? Contact Rosanne Greco at rosanne05403@aol.com.

Donate to the FUUSB Spring Auction!

Avery Hamill, Auction Team

The auction is now accepting donations for our upcoming spring auction! Please consider what you can donate to help us raise as much as we can for our community. Check out the website here and donate. And make sure to save the date for our in-person auction happening on May 2nd, starting at 5 pm at the meeting house. 

Online bidding begins on April 17th. 

Questions? Send us an email: springauction@uusociety.org 

Date with Death Club in March

Rev. Karen G. Johnston, Senior MInister

Register for March's Date with Death Club at this link. Space is limited and this fills up, so don't let this chance pass you by.

Antisemitism, Collective Liberation, & Palestinian Solidarity: 4/12, 4/26, 5/2

Caitlin Waddick, Palestine Solidarity Team

The Palestinian Solidarity Team’s events cosponsored with Jewish Voice for Peace have changed dates! 

Please register for these educational workshops The first two events will be offered hybrid in person at First UU and online. 

Here are the updated workshop dates: 

• Sunday, April 12, 2:00-5:00 PM, (Hybrid) Making Home Without Walls: Lessons from Jewish Antizionism
• Sunday, April 26, 2:00 - 4:30PM, (Hybrid) What is Antisemitism? From Right-Wing Weaponization to Collective Liberation
• Sunday, May 17, 1:30 - 3:30, (in person only) Skilling Up for Hard Conversations

Nonviolent Civil Disobedience Training 3/21

*only a few spots left!*

Kim Watkin, Democracy Project

Are you interested in learning more about Nonviolent Civil Disobedience? What does it mean to participate in an action? What can you do to support others who are taking this action?  

The Democracy Project is offering a Nonviolent Civil Disobedience Training led by the Vermont Solidarity Safety Net. on Saturday, March 21st from 9am to 3pm. in the Community Room of the FUUSB. Lunch will be provided. 

This training is open to any Member, Friend, and their guests. . It will be open to 35 participants. We are hoping to collect a sliding scale of $0-$50 to share with the VT Solidarity Safety Net as well as collect a donation for the Sunday Morning Breakfast program. More information will be sent to participants as it gets closer to the event. 

Register here.

Please contact Kim Watkin at watkinfam@aol.com with any questions or if you would like her help to register.  

Spring Graduation Homestay Launch

Homestay Team

The Homestay Team announces our Spring Graduation Homestay is launched. Please share the site far and wide among friends and family! Questions: homestay@uusociety.org

Click here or the button below for access.  

Annual Elmore Campout!

Elmore State Park, June 19-21, 6:00 p.m.

Mo Singletary, Family Programs Assistant

Mark your calendars now, this cherished annual gathering will be here before we know it! Come join FUUSB friends at Elmore State Park for a weekend of fun and community, with optional hiking, swimming, games, paddling, s'mores & more. This is an event for all ages! We'll kick off the weekend with a Friday evening potluck, have a campfire sing on Saturday, and do a little campsite worship on Sunday morning. In between, there will be plenty of time to relax, connect with each other, and enjoy the beauty of our surroundings! 

Signing up early helps ensure we have enough sites for everyone. You can sign-up here or contact Chip Patullo at sunergy.vt@gmail.com with any questions!